CWB - Use it 100% of the time?

HI all,

Still getting to grips with my 30D, first DSLR I have owned and still fiddling at the moment. I saw a thread that involved CWB settings and people having various ways of setting it (grey card, white paper, palm of hand etc) and it made me start thinking.

How often should I be setting and using CWB as opposed to AWB or one of the preset options? What is the best way to set it (distance of object from lense, how to ensure correct light is on object used for CWB)? I am curious as I have obviously never had to do this before so any help would be appreciated.

Many Thanks

I just use CWB during portraits, weddings (unless candlelit or some type of purposeful lighting), and around the house (dim, orange lighting- old victorian). Otherwise, it's AWB, for the most part.

Likewise - 95+% of the time I'm on AWB. It's only when I run into mixed lighting or discontinuous spectrum light sources that I use a custom WB. Of course, I shoot RAW and have a pretty good idea of what I can safely use to adjust WB in post.

When shooting outdoors in normal light, I choose the WB that best matches the shooting conditions. If I'm shooting in dynamic lighting conditions, I use AWB. But, I shoot in RAW as well, so I can always adjust my WB as part of the post processing work flow.

Mark

Auto White Balance 90% of the time for me. 10% custom for special conditions. If I used custom 100% of the time, I'd miss so many shots.

If you are shooting RAW, then just take a picture of a greycard or neutral surface under the same lighting. Then adjust the WB in Post Processing (Photoshop, etc). The effect is the same.

I only use CWB when shooting in the gym, because of the cycling lights. The rest of the time I choose the wb that meets the light conditions I am shooting. I also shoot 99% raw, that way I can adjust during pp.

The WB setting does not have any affect when shooting in RAW does it? I thought it only effected JPG images.

It's applied to the encapsulated JPG and many RAW processing apps will use the recorded value as the default in conversion. It can be overridden, however.

i shoot raw makes life easy just change it later on

Jon wrote in post #2142275
It's applied to the encapsulated JPG and many RAW processing apps will use the recorded value as the default in conversion. It can be overridden, however.

I did not think about post-processing tools using the WB value from the encapsulated JPG. I would imagine that Photoshop Elements does that. I quit shooting RAW+JPG, because I only had a 1 GB CF card. I have since gotten a couple of 2 GB cards, but I never did change that setting. I guess I should now and see how it works for me.

Thanks for the information.

Thanks to everyone on your thoughts on this subject. As I said, I am new to the DSLR format so still coming to terms with the settings.

Seems that AWB or the preset options are the best way to go when shooting RAW and then adjust in PP if required. Have to admit, still got to learn about RAW workflow and PP which is another thing I am looking forward to. Anyone suggest a good source for info on PP in Photoshop? Book or Website will be good.

I shoot RAW, use a Whibal card, and correct white balance later.

Gouba wrote in post #2142286
i shoot raw makes life easy just change it later on

Same here, always on AWB and raw. I will use grey and white cards in tricky lighting so the software can perfectly set WB during post.

Keep doing that. You will come up with your own opinion, plus have a very good understanding of how your camera considers the various WB settings. First hand experience is the best as each unit will read variations of the info.

There's so many more important things to get used to with DSLR than the WB, I would save WB for last. If your 30D is anything like my 20D, it's not a camera. It's a computer with a lens on it. That's what you have to get used to first! If you're used to using 'Daylight film, set it for 'daylight' and do what you usually did until you figure out how to get good exposures and good focus. 'Daylight' is good for outdoors and flash. Like everyone said, shooting RAW is the best. You can try out all the white balance settings in your editing software after you've taken the picture and then choose the best one. Have fun!